Chapter 2

Kamara’s POV

The drive was a quiet one as I watched the only place I’d ever known pass by. Every corner we turned reminded me of Mom, and saying goodbye was even harder because I wasn’t given the chance. It felt like she’d been ripped out of my world and replaced with silence, and silence was louder than any goodbye could’ve been.

When the car pulled up, I stepped out, staring at the five-floor building in front of me. It looked completely ordinary, a quiet neighborhood, and average neighbors. Nothing like home.

“Well, this should be fun,” I muttered. “Sophomore year across the country, away from everything I know… and in a shitty apartment.”

Jace grabbed my backpack from the trunk and walked up the stairs without saying a word.

We stopped on the third floor. He handed me the keys.

I snatched them from his hand.

“The new school’s just a few blocks away,” he said as I unlocked the door.

Inside was a small but decent setup, a living room, a mini kitchen, and one door that probably led to the bedroom. Everything already set up. Small. But… cozy. Not that I’d admit that out loud.

A lemon-scented candle was already lit on the counter, which surprised me. I figured one of my dad’s people had been here to prepare the space. That, or Jace had done it himself, which made the idea even weirder. It didn’t fit him. The man was all steel and silence, not warm smells and clean countertops.

Jace dropped my bags inside. “Call me if you need anything.”

He stepped out.

But not two seconds later, I heard another set of keys jingling.

I poked my head into the hallway and froze.

Jace was unlocking the apartment right across from mine.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I asked.

“Your father assigned me to this district. I am moving in.”

My jaw nearly dropped as he pulled open the door.

“No way!”

I nearly choked on my own breath. “No way. You are not moving in here. As if bringing me here wasn’t enough, now he’s assigned you to bodyguard me?”

He dropped a duffel on the floor. “Your father gave an order. I follow orders.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Do you even think for yourself?”

I already knew the answer. He never did—not where my father was concerned. He owed him everything… or so the story went.

That’s what made him dangerous. And exactly why my father trusted him with me. All through the time I’d known him, he spoke very little.

“Could you be any more inhumane?” I snapped. “Everything is already messed up, and the last thing I need is my father’s watchdog breathing down my neck.”

“I’m only here to keep you safe and protect you, Miss Mann.”

“I don’t need your protection!”

“You don’t get to decide, Miss Mann.” He said again, ever-so casually it almost taunted me.

Damn, he was so formal it made me look crazy. I’d never seen anyone so entitled and determined to protect someone who didn’t want him around.

He started toward his door.

“I’ll drop you off at the university tomorrow.”

He disappeared into the apartment.

—

As promised, Jace dropped me off despite my protest souring my already shitty morning. I didn’t know what to expect. How was I supposed to act like everything was alright, when it indeed wasn’t?

A new town, new people, and no more of my mom. I’d cried myself to sleep the previous night, praying that all of it would be a dream, but instead, I stood in front of NCU. Wearing an average t-shirt and skirt. My hair tied in its usual bun. I didn’t even care to renew it. I was too tired to even care about how I looked.

Valerie had transferred as well but wouldn’t be around for another day. That fact alone added a bitchy attitude to my already long morning. I didn’t realize how much I’d leaned on her presence, even when we weren’t on the best of terms.

A gust of wind lifted my curls right into my lip gloss. I rolled my eyes, tugging them away as I stared at the campus gates.

Then in a blink of an eye—

I wasn’t paying attention. Not to where I was going or at the stupid iced coffee in his hand. Nor the fact that he was definitely taller than me and definitely not watching where he was going either.

We collided.

Cold liquid soaked into my white tank top like karma had been waiting all morning for the perfect moment to strike.

“Shit—sorry,” he said quickly.

I stepped back, staring down at the brown stain dripping down my chest.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

I looked up, ready to cuss, but stopped mid-sentence as I got a better look. Shit. Of course he’d be hot. Perfect jawline, blonde, a single earring in one ear, eyes that were hazel, and a jaw that tightened like he was holding back a smirk.

“Let me get you a napkin,” he offered, already pulling one from his back pocket.

The entire crowd around already had their eyes on us. Correction: on him.

I snatched it from him. “I’m good.”

He blinked at my tone, then his lips twitched. “You’re new here?”

“Wow. What gave it away? The coffee on my shirt or the fact that I’m not eying you like everyone else?”

He chuckled. Then I watched his eyes slowly move from my head to toe.

“I’m also new. Well, two weeks in, if that’s still considered new.”

He looked up, then extended his hand to me for a handshake. “I’m Brian.”

I didn’t take it. “Kamara.”

He let his hand fall to his side, unfazed by my lack of a handshake. “Nice to meet you anyway, Kamara. Sorry again about the coffee.”

I gave a tight nod and dabbed at the mess on my shirt.

Brian laughed again. “There’s a café across the quad, decent coffee, less tragic outcomes. If you want a fresh one.”

“You want to get me a coffee?” I raised a brow.

Again his eyes roamed my body head to toe, and I couldn’t help feeling a little uncomfortable.

“Yeah. Seems like a good way to apologize for this mess.”

Was this flirting? I wasn’t sure. It was casual enough to pass for kindness, but the look in his eyes and the way he looked at me lingered just a little longer than necessary said otherwise.

“I’m good,” I said again, more calmly this time. “Thanks.”

He nodded, flashing a too cheerful smile, one I didn't return.

“See you around, Kamy.”

Kamy?